Handlamp



Dec. 28 1926. 1,612,579

V W. F. HENDRY HANDLAMP Filed June 1'? I 1925 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. HENDRY, OF OSSINING, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC'., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATON OF NEW YORK.

HANDLAMP.

App1ication filed June 17, 1925. Serial No. 37,654.

provements in switch structures for dry battery hand lamps. I It is the object of the present invention to provide a dry battery hand lamp composed of few parts, and one which can be readily assembled and taken apart.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention the hand lamp switch is formed of a single, homogeneous piece. Preferably, a single fiat spring is so shaped that it serves as a contact to complete the circuit between the bulb and the battery, as well as an actuator by means of which the spring may be moved into and out of the circuit-closing position.

In accordance with another feature of the invention the homogeneous piece of metal 29 above referred to is mounted on the casin and cooperates preferably with integral parts thereof in such a manner that itmay be moved into aplurality of distinct positions. As herein disclosed, a three-position switch is used which has a safety position when the bulb cannot be lighted, a flashing position when the bulb may be intermittently lighted on depressing the spring, and a permanent light position.

The hand lamp switch forming the object of the present invention is mounted on the casing without the use of any rivets, screws, and the like, and may, therefore, be freely removed therefrom. The construction is so provided that the removal of the switch may be effected from outside of the casing and without the necessity of disturbing the bal ance of the hand lamp structure. The assembling of the hand lamp requires only a 4 few' simple operations; first, the casing is provided with two openings and then the spring which serves as a combination slide and contact maker is insert d with one end through one opening and with the other end 4 through the other opening.

These and other features of the invention will more readily appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof and the appended claims.-

The drawings illustrate a hand lamp, Fig. 1 being a side elevation; Fig. 2 a perspective view of part of the hand lamp casing'cut along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a verticalcross-sectional view of the hand lamp; Figs. 4 and 4* side and top views, respectively, of the hand lamp switch spring; and Fig. 5 a vertical cross-section of the hand lamp casing.

Referring now to the drawin tubular metallic casing open at at At the upper end of the casing a flange 2 is turned in for the purpose of holding a lens 3 in place; The lens 3 is inserted into the casing through the lower opening thereof and is held against the flange 2 by means of 1 is'a a sheet of insulation 4. Preferably, the tu-.

bular casing -1 is made of sheet material which, by means of suitable can making machinery, is formed into a tube, the edges being joined together in a lock seam 5 (Fig. 5). The lock seam beingon the inside of the casing, only a straight, relatively narrow line .6 will show on the outside thereof. The seam is continued upto the flange 2 where the'two ends touch at 7. l

The casing 1 encloses dry battery 8, composed of two cells, and an incandescent electric light bulb 9. The dry battery is surrounded by an insulating wrapper 10. The central carbon electrodell of the upper dry cell contacts with one terminal 12 of the bulb 9 and is held against it by means of a coiled spring 13 which is compressed between the bottom of the zinc electrode-14 of the lower dry cell and a cap 15 enclosing the lower end of the casing 1. A projection 16 provided in the cap 15, preferably in the form h ends.

of an indentation, cooperates with an L- shaped slot 17 near the lower end of the cas ing 1 to form a bayonet lock between the cap 15 and the casing 1. The bulb 9 is provided in a holder which, in the present case, is in the form of a metallic reflector 18 having at its apexa screw-threaded socket 19'for the screw-threaded base 20 of the bulb. The

The circuit'of the bulb extends through its I terminal 12, the carbon electrode 11 of the upperdry cell, the zinc electrode 14 of the lower dry cell, the spring 13, cap 15, and casing 1. The circuit may be completed from casing'l through the reflector 18, socket 19, back to the second terminal 20 of the bulb by means of a single strip of flat spring 21. This spring is shaped in the manner illustrated in Figs. 4 and 4 lhe upper third 22 of the spring is substantially straight withthe tip 23 bent back. This tip constitutes the contact maker which cooperates with the reflector 18. The lower third 24 of the spring is also substantially straight but at an angle to the plane of the spring part 22. The spring is perforated at 25. The central portion of the spring is curved outward at 26 and between this portion and the upper'end a ledge 27 and a leg 29 are formed. Where the ledge 27 joins the curved portion 26 a shoulder 28 projects. serves as the actuator by means of which the switch may be moved into various pos1- tions, eliminating thus the necessity of providing the usual push button.

The switch is mounted on the casing in the following manner: An opening 30 is provided in the casing at a point slightly above the upper edge of the top dry cell8. In alignment with the opening 30 the casing is embossed to form a housing 31. The end of the housing opposite the opening 30 is slit open, as indicated at 32, and the side of the housing is partially slit open at 33. The top of the housing is indented at- 34. The opening 30 is wide enough to receive the upper end 22 of the flat spring which is inserted therethrough from the outside. into thecasin until the ledge 27 comes under the caslng adjacent to the upper end of the open ing 30. The extent to which the spring may be pressed within the casing is limited the switch the actuator 26 is accidentally de-- by theshoulder 28 which engages the casing on the two sides of the opening 30. The rear end 24 of the spring is now pressed down against the casing 1 to the left of the housing 31 and the spring is so proportioned that its lower end will be opposite the end,

of the slot 33. The lower end is pushed to the right through the slot 33 and when the left-hand edge of the spring clears the lip 35 of the housing overhanging the slot 33,.

the lower end of the spring part 24 presses against the top of housing 31 and the upper end of this part 24 rests on the casing 1. By means of the actuator 26 the spring 21 is moved downward until the lower end of the spring touches the end of thevhousing 31. In this position of the switch the indentation 34 is within the perforation 25 and, as shown in Fig. 3,. the contact making part 23 of the spring does not engage the reflector 18, whereby the lamp circuit is maintained open. This is the safety position of the switch. Owing to the engagement between the spring at 25 and the housing at 34, accidental vertical displacement of the spring is prevented. The resiliency of j the spring end 24 will also oppose the vertical displacement of thespring. If in this position of The part 26 pressed, the upper end 23of the spring will not make contact with the reflector because its movement is limited by the ledge 27 engaging the casing just below the opening 30.

If it is desired to flash the light, then the actuator 26 is moved upward until the leg 29 contacts with the upper edge of the open- .ing 30. The ledge 27 will now be over the opening 30 and the contact maker 23 near the reflector, but out of contact therewith. If the actuator 26 is now depressed against the resiliency of the spring end 24, then the ledge 27 will pass through the hpening 30 and the upper'spring end complete the lamp circuit. from the casing through reflector 18, base 19, to the bulb terminal 20. v

If it is desired permanently to light the lamp,-then the switch is first moved to the flashing position, then depressed by means ,of the actuator 26 and further moved -up-, ward until the ledge 27 comes below the easing above the opening 30.. The ledge 27 will hold the spring in this'position against the tension of the springend 24 and the contact housing 31, whereupon'theupper end may be readily lifted out. It will be seen, therefore, that the combination switch consisting of a slide, contact maker and actuator may be mounted on and dismounted from the casing in its entirety, and that these operations may be performed from outside of the easing. Since there are no screws, rivets and the like, to hold the switchand its parts in place, these operations may be freely per-- formed, that is to say, without the use of any special tools. If the spring 21 is made of heavy material the lower end 24 of the spring cannot be conveniently depressed by hand, but a penknife, pencil, or the like, is the only special equipment required for this purpose. In view of the fact that the whole switch consists of a homogeneous conductor 21 and parts integral with the casing 1 (the edges of the casing around opening 30, the housing 31), the likelihood of the switch getting out of order is reduced to a. minimum.

While I ferred embodiment of the ,inventiom-it will be obvious to those skilled-in 'the'a'rtthat many of its advantages may be attained with modified structures;

What I claim is have here illustrated the pre '1. As a new article of manufacture, cirlamp composed in its entirety of a spring, the hand lamp casing and a bulb holder.

2. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery and a bulb in said casing, a holder for said bulb, a circuit connection for said bulb and battery, a movable conductor for controlling said circuit, said conductor having a contact maker integral therewith and projecting within the casing to cooperate with said bulb holder, and an integral resilient portion engaging the casing and tending to maintain said conductor inan inoperative position.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a longitpdinally movable and depremible circuit controlling means for the bulb of a hand lamp composed in its entirety of a spring, the hand lamp casing and a bulb holder.

4. In a hand lamp, a tubular metallic casing, a bulb and a battery enclosed therein,

- a holder for said bulb and a switch comprising an actuator, a contact cooperating with the bulb holder and a contact cooperating with the casing freely removable in its entirety from outside of the casing.

5. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery and a bulb in said casing, a circuit connection for said bulb and battery, a bulb holder, a conductor for controlling said circuit, said conductor having a contact maker integral therewith and cooperating with said holder, an integral protruding part by means of which the contact 'maker may be moved into different positions and depressed from outside of the casing, and an integral resilient portion engaging the casing and tending to maintain said contact maker in an inoperative position.

6. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery and a bulb in said casing, a circuit connection for said bulb and battery, a' bulb, holder, a

s rin for controllin said circuit said P a: v

spring having a contact maker integral therewith and cooperating with the holder of said bulb, an integral protruding part by means of which the spring may be moved into different positions and depressed from outside ofthe casing, and an integral resilient portion engaging the casing and tending to maintain said spring in an inoperative position.

7. In a hand lamp, a metallic casing, a bulb and a'battery in said casing, said bat tery being at one electrode connected to one terminal of said bulb and at the other electrode with the casing, a bulb holder, a flat spring, said spring having a contact maker integral therewith and cooperating with said bulb holder, an integral protruding part by means of which the spring may be moved into different positions and depressed from the outside of the casing, an integral resilient portion engaging. the easing and tending to maintain said spring in an inoperative position, and another integral part cooperating with the casing to maintain the spring in an actuated position against the tension of said resilient part.

8. In a hand lamp, a metallic casing, a metallic reflector in said casing but insulated therefrom, a bulb with one of its terminals connected to the reflector, a battery in said casing at one electrode connected to switch having permanent light, safety and -flashing positions. I

10. In. a hand lamp, a metallic casing having aslot therein, a bulb and a battery in said casing, electrical connections between the bulb and the battery, a switch in said connection having permanent light, safety and flashing positions, characterized in this that the entire switch is composed of a single strip of metallic spring and integral parts of the casing. 11. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery and a bulb enclosed therein, and a switch having permanent light, safety and flashing positions and comprising an actuator and a contact maker cooperating with the bulb mounted on the casing but freely removable therefrom.

12. In a hand lamp, a metallic casing, a

bulb and a battery enclosed therein; a holder for said bulb, and a three position switch comprising an actuator, a contact cooperating with the bulb holder and a contact cooperating. withthe casing, said switch being freely removable in its entirety from out-- side of the casing.

13. In a hand lamp, a metallic casing, a bulb and a battery in said casing, said battery being at one electrode connected to one terminal of said bulb and at the other electrode to the casing, a flat spring, said spring having a contact maker integral therewith, projecting within the casing and cooperating with the other terminal of said bulb, an integral protruding part by means of which the spring may be moved into different positions from outside of the casing, an integral resilient portion engaging the casing and tending to maintain said spring in an inoperative position, an integral limiting the movement of said sprlng relative to the casing, and another integral part cooperating with the casing to maintain the art for spring in an actuated position against'the tension of said resilient part.

14. In a hand lamp, a tubular metallic casing open at both ends and provided intermediate its ends with a slot, a turned-in flange integral with one end of-the casing, a lens held within the casing by said flange, a metallic reflector lying with its flaring end against said lens, an incandescent electric light bulb, a socket for said bulb in the apex of the reflector and electrically connected therewith, said socket being approximately in line with the slot in the casing, a sheet of insulating material for holding said lens in place and for insulating the reflector from the casing, a dry battery held within the casing with the carbon electrode engaging one contact of said lamp, an insulating jacket for said battery, a metallic cap, a bayonet joint connection between said cap and the other end of said casing, a coiled spring I rated end.

between the bottom of the zinc electrode of said battery and said cap, a housing embossed out of the casing in alignment w1 th said slot, said housing being slit open at its end opposite said slot and partly slit open on one side, said housing having also an indentation in its top, a combination slide, 210- tuator and contact maker formed of a homogeneous piece of flat spring, the lower end of said spring being slightly bent up and perforated to engage the indentation within the housing and the upper end of said spring projecting within the casing through said slot into engagement with said reflector, intermediate its ends the spring being. curved outward so as to be engaged by the thumb of an operator, a shoulder formed in the spring near the end of the curved part for engaging the outside of the casing below said slot, and a ledge formed in the spring between said shoulder and the. upper end thereof and adapted to engage the inside of said casing above said slot to hold the upper end of the spring in engagement with the reflector against the tension of thelower end.

15. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery and a bulb enclosed therein, a holder forsaid bulb, a contact spring having one end movable longitudinally and laterally to cooperate with said holder, and parts integral with the casing for slidably holding the 3 other end of said spring.

16. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery and a bulb enclosed therein, a holder for said bulb, a contact spring having a central part outside of the casing and one end projecting within the casing in cooperative relation with but normally out of the path of said holder, and parts integral with the casing for holding the otherend of the spring under tension but slidably with respect to the casin g 17. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery and a bulb enclosed therein, a contact spring having one end in cooperative relation with spring on the outside of said casing in slidable relation thereto, and means onthe casing tending to prevent longitudinal displacement of said spring.

18. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery and a bulb enclosed therein, a contact spring having one end cooperating with the bulb circuit, means for mounting said spring on said casing in slidable relation thereto, and the other end perforated, and a projection in thel casing cooperating with said perforated enc 19. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery and a bulb enclosed therein, a contact spring having one end cooperating with the bulb circuit and the other end perforated, a housing on the outside of the casing enclosing said perforated spring end, and a projection in said housing cooperating with said perfo- 20. In a hand lamp, a metallic casing, a battery and a bulb enclosed therein, a contact spring having one end cooperating with the bulb circuit, a housing integral with the casing and having an indentation in its top against which the other end of said spring presses, and means including said housing for mounting said spring on said casing in slidable relation thereto.

21. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery and a bulb enclosed therein, a holder for said bulb, a contact spring having the central part outside of the casing and one end projecting within the casing in cooperative relation with said holder, and means for slidably holding the other end of said spring on the outside of said casing.

22. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery and a bulb therein, electrical connections between the bulb and battery including a contact spring, said spring having an intermediate position for flashing and two end positions on opposite sides of the flashing .position corresponding, respectively, to permanent light and safety, andan integral part of said spring accessible outside of the casing and by means of which part said spring is slidable in a longitudinal direction into diflerent positions and laterally movable in the flashing position.

23. In a hand lamp, a metallic casing, a battery and a bulb therein, electrical connections including said casing between said bulb and battery, a contact spring also included in said circuit and permanently in engagement with said casing, said spring having an intermediate position for flashing and two end positions on opposite sides of the flashing position corresponding, respectively, to permanent light and safety, and an integral part of said spring accessible outside of the casing and by means of,whichpart the spring is slidable in a longitudinal direction to co plete the bulb circuit.

24. n a hand lamp, a casing provided with an opening, a battery and bulb in said casing; a circuit for said bulb and battery, and a movableresilient' conductor one end of which projects from the outside through said opening into the casing, to control said circuit and the other end of which is slid ably held on the outside of the casing.

25. In a hand lamp, a casing provided with two aligned openings, a battery and a bulb in said casing, a circuit for said bulb and battery, and a movable resilient conductor one end of which projects from the outside through one of said openings into the casing to control said circuit, the other end of said conductor being slidably heldand under tension in the other opening.

26. In a hand lamp, a 'casing,a bulb and a battery enclosed therein, and a switch for controlling the bulb circuitimounted on the casing and freely removable therefrom while the hand lamp is in assembled condition.

27. In a hand lamp, a metallic casing, a. bulb and a battery enclosed therein, and a switch comprising an actuator, a contact co-. operating with the bulb circuit, and a contact cooperating with the casing freely removable in its entirety from the casing while the flashlight is in assembled condition.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, this 16th day of June 1925.

WILLIAM F. HENDRY. 

